SEA- ANEMONES. 91 



returning waters plunged jou in the green depths again, or 

 the sweeping tide brought you the prize of a young Peri- 

 winkle or an invisible Star- fish ? But what better is the 

 life you are spontaneously leading ? What greater variety 

 marks your existence, than cliequers the life of the Sea- 

 Anemone ? Does not one day float over you after another 

 just as the tide floats over it, and find you much the 

 same, and leave you vegetating still ? Are you more useful ? 

 What real service to others did you render yesterday ? What 

 tangible amount of occupation did you overtake in the one 

 hundred and sixty-eight hours of which last week con- 

 sisted ? and what higher end in Hving have you than that 

 polypus ? You go through certain mechanical routines of 

 rising, and dressing, and visiting, and dining, and going to 

 sleep again : and are a little roused from your usual le- 

 thargy by the arrival of a friend, or tlie effort needed to 

 write some note of ceremony. But as it curtseys in the 

 waves, and vibrates its exploring arms, and gorges some 

 dainty Medusa^ the Sea- Anemone goes through nearly the 

 same round of pursuits and enjoyments with your intelli- 

 gent and immortal self ! Is this a life for a rational and re- 

 sponsible creature to lead ? " 



We may say to the last question, " Perhaps not;" but it 



